Celebrate FOPG’s ‘summer Party’

The Friends of the Public Garden celebrates the season at its annual “Summer Party,” which comes to the Mandarin Oriental on Wednesday, July 23.

“Many people leave the city for beach retreats in the summer months, but we have found that plenty of people stay in town in summer, especially mid-week,” said Eileen Scafidi, director of communications and outreach for the Friends group. “They enjoy the opportunity to get together with old friends and meet new ones.”

Revelers will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks while supporting the Friends’ mission to preserve and enhance the Boston Common, the Public Garden and the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. Last year’s event drew 75 revelers to Via Matta to commemorate the silver anniversary of The Heritage on the Garden.

Elizabeth Vizza, executive director of the Friends group, lauded the Mandarin Oriental for working diligently to make the summer soiree especially festive this year.

“The Mandarin Oriental is going above and beyond in designing a wonderful party, including a fantastic menu of hors d’oeuvres to delight our guests, while supporting a budget that allows proceeds to fund work in our treasured parks,” Vizza said.

Vizza said it is fitting that an event to benefit the city’s parks takes place during the summer months.

“It is especially delightful to be able to celebrate the parks when they are in the height of bloom,” she added. Since 1970, the Friends group has worked in partnership with the City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department to care for the Boston Common, Public Garden and Commonwealth Avenue Mall. The Friends fund and coordinate a variety of ongoing maintenance projects, as well as special long-range projects, including the restoration of Brewer Fountain Plaza on the Common. Tree maintenance has also been a primary function of the group for decades.

The Friends of the Public Garden’s “Summer Party” at the Mandarin Oriental’s Bangkok Room, located at 776 Boylston St., on Wednesday, July 23, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased online at www.friendsofthepublicgarden.org or by calling 617-723-8144.